Nobody catches blockchain criminals better.

Dec 10, 2024, 2:08 p.m. UTC

Since 2021, pseudonymous blockchain sleuth ZachXBT has built an unmatched reputation for the relentless pursuit of crypto thieves and scammers. The detective generally provides this service free of charge, as a crypto fighter for the people. Probably because, as a victim of crypto fraud himself, ZachXBT knows what it feels like.

Discovering that there is no recourse to being scammed, he took it on himself to use blockchain’s transparency and his own uncanny ability to detect patterns to sniff out Ponzi schemes, pump and dumps and rug pulls.

On August 19, while waiting for a flight, ZachXBT was casually monitoring blockchain ledgers when he noticed the first stirrings of what would become the largest crypto theft ever caught: a $600,000 Bitcoin sale. An unusually large transaction. The deal ignored steep fines no serious investor would accept. ZachXBT traced subsequent, even larger trades through a maze of false fronts, until by the time his plane landed, he was able to identify both the victim and the thieves — of a $243 million fortune.

The target subsequently hired ZachXBT to work with the authorities to capture the criminals, which he did within a month. It was the first time ZachXBT accepted a commission for his work. He otherwise depends on donations — which he receives to the tune of roughly $1.3 million a year.

In interviews (where he has also revealed his use of the male pronoun) ZachXBT has been clear that it’s the satisfaction he gets from fighting crypto crime that motivates him. It does seem to be that and his dedication to making his investigations transparent that has attracted his 700K followers on X and 45.5K on Telegram.
This profile is part of CoinDesk's Most Influential 2024 package. For all of this year's nominees, click here.